The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-06
VALLANDIGHAM'S
LOYALTY CANNOT BE CUES
TONED OR sMEROHED,
Says "E. N. v."-The s'sOns of Libes'-
y" Were Warned by HfH1 20 Give
No Aid 60 the ConfederacT.
To the Editor Of tho Herald;

Please lot me add something TO Whist
Jacob Thompson says in the Sosthsn
BiUouac concerning Clement l.. VAL
landigham's connection With the 80
called North western conspiracy" Of
1854. In 1882, and again in 1868, Mr..
Vallandigham was asked TO Join the
secret organic alton, which was alter
ward known as the "SoDs OF Liberty"
aud was then called the "0rdf Of
American Knights" Bach time he
refused, because he feared the order
might have something to do with the
Southern Confederacy. Early in 1856 4
Mr.. Vallandigham, then an exile in
Canada, was invited and urged TO DIN
the order. He was assured that the
organization had no connection with
the Confsderscy, and he essented to
become a member. Shortly sfter the
Supreme Ctuncil of the order met In
New York City, organized the "SoDs
OF Liberty" and made Mr.. Vallandig-
ham Grand Commander.
Mr.. Vallandigham took the oath Of
Office in Canada. 1t was to support
the Constitution of the United States
and faithfully discharge the duties Of
Grand Commander. Under Mr.. Val
landigham's leadership tho Or
der rapidly grew. In May, 1864,
he learned that leaders OF 'The
Sons of LibsIty" were in con.
ference with Confederate SCENTS, with
a view to a rising against the Federal
Government. The Confederate agents
gave no assurance that such Northern
States as could be induced 10 rebel
against the Federal Government would
be received into the Southern Oonfed-
eracy. Mr.. Vallandigham indignantly
denounced the scheme, warned the
subordinate officers OF the order against
treating with Confederate agents, de-
claTed that no finger should be raised
or shot fred in aid of the Oonfederacy
until all idea OF permanent disunion
was given up, and said il the con
spiracy went further he would inform
President Lincoln. This checked the
rising.
A few weeks later Mr.. Vallandig-
ham secretly made Ia way from Can
ada to his home in Ohio, but he had
30 thoroughly lost confidence in "The
Sons OF Liberty" that he made his es-
cape without any notification TO the
order. Without Mr.. Vsllaudighsm's
knowledge, 1t was planned that "The
Sons of Liberty" should rise against
the Federal Government August 10,
1854, the belief being that, the rebel
lion once begun, the Grand Com
mander would be- dragged into il.
The rising was foilsd by the discovery
that the detectives Of the United
States knew OF the conspiracy. Mr..
VsllandiSham declared that "The
Sons OF Liberty" little knew him II
they supposed no could be dragged
into the thing.
IL is perfectly certain that il Mr..
Vsllsndigham could have been in
duced TO countenauCe rising OF "The
S ms Of Liberty" against the Federal
Goyeinemnt itwould have been o,ely
in the hope of bringing about such a
cessation OF the civil war as. would
permit negotiations for a peaceful res
toration OF the Union. He stopped a
rising that did not promise such re-
suit, and thus prevented a new civil
war. Mr.. Vallsnd CHAM wrongly be-
lieved that the Union could not be
restored by coercing the South, but
no man, North or South, was more
anxious than he that this country
should be under one government, aud
that the government OF the United
States. R.N.V.
NEw YoRE, January 2, 1887.